BY JENNIFER EZIMAKOR
Doctors under the Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Capital Territory Administration (ARD-FCTA), on Monday, began an indefinite strike, following unresolved disputes with the Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCTA).
The decision was announced in a communique signed by the association’s President, Dr. George Ebong, and General Secretary, Dr. Agbor Affiong, after an emergency general meeting on Sunday.
The strike comes after a seven-day warning action that ended without progress. ARD-FCTA, which represents doctors across 14 district and general hospitals, as well as the Department of Public Health, accused the government of neglecting critical issues affecting healthcare delivery.
“This once again confirms our fears of the chronic neglect of our healthcare system affecting the effectiveness of the medical doctors in order to carry out care to the highest standard,” the doctors stated.
Their demands include payment of salary arrears ranging from one to six months for doctors employed since 2023, immediate recruitment of new staff, settlement of the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund, and arrears from the 25 to 35 per cent upward review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure.
They are also pressing for timelines on skipping and conversion processes, correction of salary deductions, regularisation of salary payments, and conversion of post-Part II Fellows to the Consultant cadre within six months of passing.
Other requests include documented timelines for promotions with arrears, settlement of wage award arrears, renovation and equipping of FCTA hospitals, payment of outstanding hazard allowance arrears, and salary arrears for newly employed external residents, some of whom are owed up to four months.
Following what it described as “the most passionate and historic deliberations,” the association said Congress resolved to begin an indefinite strike at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, September 15.
“We do hope that the management will do the urgent needful to meet all of our demands for the sake of our patients and ourselves,” the communique added.